Hi all, since we got our 2 AI's we have noticed that mine rarely gets any water in it, however Nigel regularly comes in after an hour sail with a couple of full buckets and this is with no weight in the boat. Since we have put electronics in the boats it has become more important to keep the hull dry, so we pressure tested the hulls. The twist and seals were fine as was everything else besides the bow hatch which was blowing lots of bubbles. On closer inspection we failed to find any significant flaws in the seal besides a little bit less rigidity than mine. Has any one else had this kind of trouble and how have you dealt with it?

I would dry out the hull and then use a hose to drench the front hatch every way you can think of then check if any water gets in. If not, keep looking for another leak. My most common "fatal" cracks were the front of the Mirage drive bay on the bottom of the hull. Other places to check are the scupper holes, the seat drain holes and seat peg "dimples".

I would be surprised, if when you did the pressure test, that you didn't find some other leaks. If you didn't, maybe more soapy water during another try, as I find lots of little leaks on every test.

My AI takes on about 2L of water in rougher conditions but less than 200mL in calm conditions or just in straight Adventure mode. Given the absence of water on calm days / adventure days I think I can safely rule out any cracks in the hull below the waterline.

The bow hatch is the prime suspect but the mast collar is a close second given Hobie's aversion to silicone. Has anybody else managed to reduce the amount of water they collect on a good sailing day.

The front hatch should not leak unless (1) the seals are bad or (2) you place something under the hatch bungee cords which distort the hatch cover. Of course, you cannot fill up the bow w/ so much gear that it pushes up on the front hatch and compromises the seal (item 1 above.)

A real test of the twist-n-seal hatches, is to simply leave your AI hull outdoors during a heavy rain, say 3" in an hour or 2, with the T-n-S hatches horizontal. Cover the front hatch w/ a plastic tarp. After the rain, check for water in the hull. That will tell you definitively if your T-n-S hatches are leaking. You may be very surprised.